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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bulb · vault · drill · can · hand · rest · rush · pop

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bulb — for light
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. can — to be able to
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. pop — soda
  9. bulb — for light
  10. can — a tin
  11. rest — what's left
  12. rest — a break
  13. hand — in cards
  14. drill — the tool
  15. pop — to visit
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. can — a tin
  18. drill — a practice
  19. hand — help
  20. vault — a safe
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — hurry
  23. drill — army training
  24. hand — part of the body

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com